AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth has presented its 2018/19 charity partners with funds raised throughout the season.
The club raised a total of £13,966.53 at select club events, which was presented to the charities this week to mark the end of their season-long partnerships.
Each charity also benefitted from unique opportunities and experiences to raise awareness and directly impact the individuals they support.
Speaking of their time as official partners, here is what each charity had to say.
Crumbs Project
“We are very grateful for the support AFC Bournemouth has given us this season as their club staff chosen charity of 2018/19.
"Not only have they helped raise greater awareness of our charity and the work we do, but our trainees have also benefited from some truly unforgettable learning experiences.
"From taking part in our charity Bake Off to giving our trainees the opportunity to experience working in Vitality Stadium’s professional kitchen – both staff and players have all fully embraced our trainees within the world of AFC Bournemouth.
"The generous donation from the club will be used to develop our training programme to ensure that our trainees on completion of their training can achieve professional recognition for that training through the endorsement of the Institute of Hospitality.”
Gully’s Place
“Everyone at Gully’s Place feels privileged to have been chosen as the Junior Cherries Charity of the Year 2018/19.
"We’ve had a fantastic season and thoroughly enjoyed all the wonderful opportunities that AFC Bournemouth have given these very special families.
"Amongst our highlights has been the Arsenal game where some of our children got to be flagbearers and also the players' visit to Gully’s Place suite on the children’s ward at Poole Hospital.
"The partnership has been so much more than raising vital funds for our service.
"They’ve provided families with precious memories and also helped raise the profile of Gully’s Place, ensuring our continued mission to support children and families at an incredibly difficult time.
"Our thanks to everyone at AFCB – players, staff and supporters for making us feel so welcome and part of your AFC Bournemouth family.”
Dorset Mental Health Forum
“We are delighted to have been AFC Bournemouth’s charity partner during 2018/19.
"This valued partnership has raised the profile of mental health in football locally, enabling more people to get involved with football activities and improving their wellbeing.
"AFC Bournemouth’s commitment to supporting mental health means the club plays an important part locally in raising awareness and challenging stigma around mental health.”
Bournemouth Foodbank
“We have been so grateful to the club for all their promotion and help.
"The volunteers and their families have enjoyed being able to attend a few matches which has been such a great way for us to say thank you to them for their hard work.
"Many of these volunteers have been clients in the past and are still struggling financially.
"The work of the club towards the community of Bournemouth has been so inspiring and helped us feed more than 6,000 families this year and the financial help given to us as one of their charity partners will be so helpful towards our ongoing work.
"We are hoping to put some of it towards our Holiday Hunger scheme this summer where we are partnering with a few local schools, St Georges Church in Boscombe and the Joy Café Churchill Gardens to provide referred children with a packed lunch every weekday and a food parcel for the family throughout the six weeks of the school holidays.
"Thank you from the Bournemouth Foodbank Team and local families in crisis.”
AFC Bournemouth would again like to express our gratitude to these organisations for a wonderful year.
